Weymouth mayor calls for changes at metering station after release

Thursday

Jan 12, 2017 at 12:01 AMJan 12, 2017 at 11:10 AM

Representatives from a Texas natural gas company are working with town officials to ensure a Weymouth metering station is safe and secure after a relief valve froze Friday night, releasing natural gas.

Jessica Trufant The Patriot Ledger @JTrufant_Ledger

QUINCY – Representatives from a Texas natural gas company are working with town officials to ensure a Weymouth metering station is safe and secure after a relief valve froze Friday night, releasing natural gas.

Town officials, including Mayor Robert Hedlund, his chief of staff Ted Langill, town solicitor Joe Callanan, Fire Chief Keith Stark and Police Capt. David Phillips met with Spectra representatives Wednesday to discuss the incident. Hedlund said the company reiterated that a relief valve on 1-inch pipe off the secondary 16-inch pipe broke while open due to below freezing temperature and excess moisture.

The fire department started receiving calls about an odor of natural gas near the Fore River Bridge at about 7:30 p.m. Friday. After tracing the smell back to the metering station, fire officials heard the sound of rushing gas. Gas meters on the fire engine indicated that gas was at a safe level. Officials notified both National Grid and Spectra subsidiary Algonquin Gas Transmission, which both sent out representatives.

Marylee Hanley, a spokesperson for Spectra Energy, said the representative shut the valve and stopped the release of gas at about 9:15 p.m. and repairs were completed by about 10 p.m.

Since then, Hedlund said Spectra and the fire department have already made changes in their response protocols. Spectra has replaced all valves at the metering facility similar to the relief valve that failed, and Spectra and National Grid have replaced incorrect and ambiguous signs at the facility, Hedlund said.

Hedlund has also asked Spectra to pay for increased monitoring in the area and additional security measures and cameras.

“Spectra was receptive to my request, but will respond later,” Hedlund said in a statement.

Officials said earlier this week that the incident highlights their concerns regarding Algonquin Gas Transmission’s proposal to build a 7,700-horsepower compressor station on the banks of the Fore River, near the metering station. The proposal is part of Spectra’s Atlantic Bridge project, which would expand the Houston company’s pipelines from New Jersey into Canada.

Compressor stations are placed along pipelines to keep them pressurized and the gas flowing. Residents and officials in Weymouth, Quincy and Braintree are opposed to the proposed facility due to safety and health concerns in the densely populated residential and industrial area.